QYLD vs SPY
Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, QYLD or SPY?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. QYLD led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.1%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | QYLD | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $8.3B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.62% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 105 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +12.59%Best | +12.47% |
| 1Y Return | +22.25%Best | +17.51% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.84% | +21.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.16% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.0%Best | 14.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -30.7%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,802 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.1% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Global X by mirae Asset | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2013 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2013 to Sep 11, 2026 (12.7 years).
QYLD vs SPY growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 12.7 years both funds cover.
QYLD vs SPY Performance
Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF (QYLD) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QYLD returned +22.25% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, QYLD is up 12.59% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, QYLD compounded at +14.84% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +8.16% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.76% annualized vs +2.98%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.6% compared with 11.0% for QYLD. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -30.7% for QYLD and -34.1% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QYLD charges 0.60% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $9 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QYLD currently yields 11.62% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
95.7% of QYLD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 54.4% of SPY's money is in holdings QYLD also owns.
Most of QYLD is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
87 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QYLD and 504 in SPY, against full books of 105 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 407 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for QYLD (45.1% of the fund), and 7 for QYLD that do not appear in SPY (2.5%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QYLD | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 8.61% | 7.71% | 0.90% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.82% | 6.83% | 0.99% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 6.09% | 5.50% | 0.59% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.49% | 4.08% | 0.41% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 3.19% | 3.33% | 0.14% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.76% | 1.51% | 3.25% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.87% | 2.97% | 0.10% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.97% | 2.67% | 0.30% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 2.81% | 1.94% | 0.87% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 3.39% | 1.27% | 2.12% |
95.7% of QYLD is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QYLD or SPY?
QYLD has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QYLD or SPY?
Over the past year QYLD returned +22.25% vs +17.51% for SPY, so QYLD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), QYLD annualized +2.98% vs +12.76% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QYLD or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.6% annualized versus 11.0% for QYLD. Worst drawdown: QYLD -30.7% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both QYLD and SPY?
QYLD and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QYLD and SPY?
95.7% of QYLD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 54.4% of SPY's is in holdings QYLD also owns. They hold 87 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QYLD and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, QYLD or SPY?
QYLD yields 11.62% while SPY yields 0.98%, so QYLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than QYLD?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. QYLD led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.